Zola insists he didn't go at it Hammers and tongs with furious Franco

West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola has denied having a bust-up with Mexico forward Guillermo Franco. Zola substituted Franco during Saturday's 2-2 draw at Sunderland - after the player had scored - leading to an angry reaction from the former Villarreal man.It was Franco's third appearance of the season and he scored in the 30th minute but Zola decided to replace him with Zavon Hines with 18 minutes to play.  Centre of attention: West Ham striker Guillermo Franco leaps to meet a cross against SunderlandRegarding Franco's reaction to the decision, Zola argued: 'I don't think he was angry because I took him off. I think he was angry because he miscontrolled the ball a couple of times.' Zola has warned his team that they cannot waste a decent first-half performance  again in the future, in the manner that they did at Sunderland. They allowed 10-man Sunderland to snatch a point.  And the former Italy striker indicated that his players may have been overawed  by the vociferous crowd - leading them to freeze under pressure. Gian the man: Hammers boss ZolaSunderland,  who were 2-1 down and a man down after 45 minutes, levelled in the 76th minute through Kieran Richardson.'It's not possible for the team to play like we did in the first half and then let them in as we did,' said Chelsea legend Zola.'That's something we have to correct because it's keeping us in a position that we don't deserve to be in. It's all down to these problems. We have to sort it out.'When you are in a position where you are in control against a team that is a man down, we have to keep it that way, no matter what. 'I believe that in the second half the atmosphere and their willingness and desire to come back impressed us and we didn't play.'   Zola praised another West Ham forward Carlton Cole, who scored the team's other  goal at the Stadium of Light. 'Carlton Cole is very difficult to handle when he is playing as he is now and he was impressive. I was pleased for him that he scored a goal and he should have got another one but that's OK.' LEO'S LONDON: West Ham beware, the money men are out to take advantageTo Hull and back: Curbs emerges as front runner to replace BrownBruce is wrong to comment on our players - fumes West Ham No 2 ClarkeCharles Sale: Poppies growing on Premier League clubsWEST HAM UNITED FC

Source: Daily_Mail